City Beat

Service people think they are more important than those who hired them
The problem nowadays with service people is that as soon as they are
given a desk and a telephone they think they are already more
important than the people who hired them.
Take for example the new set of Public Information Officers in the
Regional Transportation Center where several new PIOs, as they have
been known in the industry (who knows what they want to be called
now), have implemented new policies and regulations, and in order to
speak to a public information officer you need to be interrogated by a
receptionist to see if the PIO is not too busy or wants to talk to the
reporter on the line.
If the reporter refuses to discuss his/her assignment with a
receptionist, another staff member (perhaps another receptionist
impersonating a staff member) calls back and explains that the PIO “is
very busy and can’t come to the telephone,” but wants to know how she
can help — perhaps pretending a good intention to avoid a complaint to
higher-ups, which might result in losing her desk and her phone
privileges and being sent back to being just an ordinary staff member,
as she previously was.
Because the Las Vegas Tribune likes to be fair, and we understand that
maybe that PIO job is too big for certain PIOs and may have gone to
their head, we are withholding the names of those involved to see if a
correction — and even an apology — is offered to the Las Vegas Tribune
representative that was treated shabbily by several telephone
operators at the Regional Transportation Center.
We remind readers about the series of articles this newspaper wrote
regarding the RTC several years ago, touching on the attitude of the
employees, which was not the best — possibly because of the
less-than-adequate pay — and how the buses were not kept up to
standard for a city such as Las Vegas, where tourists from everywhere
and all levels of society come and use the bus service. If they need a
good example of how to treat callers and people requesting
information, they can learn from the PIO at Clark County where the
assistant to Mr. Erik Pappa (the County Director of Communication) and
all assistants are examples of courtesy and good public relations to
all callers: media or not media; important people or “ordinary”
people; this political party or another one.
* * * * *Many people have called the Las Vegas Tribune asking if Assistant
Sheriff Joe Lombardo — who may run for the sheriff job now that
Gillespie announced he will not be seeking another term — is related
to the Chicago MOB boss Joe Lombardo. But because we don’t know, we
have to pass the inquiries on to the news department to see if they
can connect the dots. (We know that many times names — whether Spanish
or Italian or some other nationality— may be the same name, but spelt
differently, so we will leave that up to the investigative section of
the news department for clarification.)
The other Lombardo, with the Chicago Outfit, along with Angelo J. La
Pietra (known as “The Hook”), took over the Outfit’s operations in Las
Vegas in 1971. That Lombardo, the one from Chicago — if memory serves
us right — is in prison doing a life sentence since February 2009 and
is not the one who might be running for sheriff in Clark County.
* * * * *And speaking of the sheriff’s race, so far out of all the early
candidates who have already acknowledged that they are in the race,
the one with more possibility to win and become the next Sheriff of
Clark County is Officer Laurie Bisch, who has the experience and the
knowledge to do the job right and has already suffered the
consequences of daring Gillespie in a political race, like anyone
would suffer who previously ran against the almighty Gillespie. Laurie
Bisch is not a “perennial candidate,” such as the “only” newspaper in
town nicknames her. She has only run two times.
Bisch is so confident this time that she has already purchased her
license plate with the code number for the Sheriff on the $42 million
police radio.
* * * * *
One candidate whom we would have assumed would be throwing his hat in
the ring, Gordon Martines, has apparently disappeared from the face of
the earth. We do not expect for “the only newspaper in town” to
announce his candidature if he ever decides to announce his candidacy
because not once during the legal battle between the Detective and the
Sheriff (plus 14 of the sheriff’s most trusted high ranking officers)
has the Bonanza newspaper reported to its readers what is taking place
in the federal courthouse.
Maybe they are too busy trying to be the only newspaper in Las Vegas,
or maybe they are not allowed to mention the legal battle and may be
waiting for orders to report the scandal.
If they read some of the depositions in the case, they might be
begging for a salvo situation to enable them to report the court
proceedings.
So far the only newspaper reporting on the case is the Las Vegas
Tribune — but we forgot that we are “not a newspaper.” Las Vegas very
possibly will soon — with the help of a federal judge — hold the
“honor” of being the only city of this size with (according to their
dreams) only one newspaper.
* * * * *Art Vargas takes you back to the golden era of Las Vegas, in this
fabulous 90-minute show, “Art Vargas’ Vintage Vegas Live!” at the
CasaBlanca Resort & Casino in Mesquite on September 28 at 7:00 p.m.
Swingin the Music that defined the Golden era. Las Vegas showman Art
Vargas brings to life Vintage Las Vegas through exciting song and
dance performances reminiscent of the legendary stars of Vintage
Vegas. With the Swingin’ Swank Set band, featuring the Fabulous Vargas
girl and Special Guest Laura Shaffer. Acclaimed as one of Vegas’ best
performers, Art Vargas represents Vegas Golden Era like no other.
Experience authentic vintage Vegas performance in this swingin’ show,
featuring the music of: Bobby Darin, Louis Prima & Keely Smith, Frank
Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Cab Calloway, Elvis and more. Tickets:mesquitegaming.com/ad-vargas/
* * * * *
Put on your Lederhosen and get your stein ready for the Las Vegas
Oktoberfest, Sample traditional Beers, Foods and the hottest buxom
beer maidens serving Bavarian brews; bands playing lively tunes and
leading sing-along’s of old time drinking songs. Celebrate life and
raise funds for American Parkinson Disease Association Downtown Las
Vegas October 5 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. For additional information go
to the website www.LVOktoberfest.com.
* * * * *
Printmaking Workshop (ages 13+)
Wednesdays, Oct. 2, 9, and 16; 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Cost: $39.
Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St., (702) 229-6383.
Students will create printing plates from styrofoam and cardboard and
print with both water-soluble crayons and printing ink in this
three-day workshop. Beginners and experienced artists will be welcomed
by instructor Jacqueline Eihausen.
* * * * *
Rainbow Company Youth Theatre presents “The Boy Who Left Home to Find
Out About the Shivers” (ages 8-adult)Oct. 4, 5, 11, 12 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 6, 12, 13 at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $5 per person.
Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St., (702) 229-6383.
Rainbow Company Youth Theatre will open its 2013-2014 season with “The
Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers” — a clever folktale
from the Brothers Grimm. Just in time for Halloween, it is the story
of a boy who enters a haunted castle to spend three nights in the
company of ghosts and gargoyles, hoping to understand the concept of
fear. Lively and humorous, the play will appeal to ages 8 through
adult. To purchase tickets, visit www.artslasvegas.org (there is no
online fee) or call (702) 229-6383 or 229-6553.
City Beat is a compilation of news and views of our editorial and
writing team, along with reader submissions and topics. Readers are
invited to suggest a local topic or any other items of interest.

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Having read through this I think it is really informative.
I appreciate you choosing the time and effort to get
this informative article together. One time i
again find myself spending a significant amount of time both reading and commenting.
But so what, it was still worth every penny!